Lock-box.



R. G BULLOCK.

LOCK BOX.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 26, 1913.

1,172,193.. Patented Feb. 15, 1916.

4 SHEETSSHEET 1- THE COLUMBIA PLANOURAPH 60., WASHINGTON, D. c

R. G. BULLOCK.

LOCK BOX.

APPLICATION FILED -FEB. 26. 1913.

Patented Feb. 15, 1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

gmue/ntoz "i TVIIWIIIIIIIIIIIAVIIII/A\\\ \,&/I' //a A THE COLUMBIA FLAIIIDGRAPHY c0.. WASHINGTON, D. c.

R. G. BULLOCK.

LOCK BOX. A-PPLICATION FILED FEB.26. 1913- Patented Feb. 15,1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

so i R. G. BULLOCK.

Lock BOX.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 26, I913.

Patented Feb. 15,1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

O HOT/WW THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH c0-. WASHINGTON, D. c.

" W ern RAYMOND G. BULLOCK, OF JAMESTOWN, NEW YORK.

LOCK-BOX.

Application filed February 26, 1913.

. LOCK, citizen of the United States, residing at Jamestown, in the county of Chautauquaand State of New York, haveinvented certain new anduseful Improvements in Look- Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to provide an improved form of lock box for mail. This and other objects of my invention will be fully illustrated in the drawings, described in the specification and pointed out in the claims at the end thereof.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a series of the lock boxes assembled, Fig. 2 is a horizontalsection taken on the line2 X in Fig. 1. Fig; 3 is a vertical section on the line 3 3 ;in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal vertical section on the line t*4 in Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the blank from which one of the boxes is formed. Fig. 6 isa perspective view of the blank after it has been formed into a box. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of two of the boxes tied together.

In the accompanying drawings like reference numerals indicate like parts.

In the drawings reference numeral 1 indicates a blank which is cut out of sheet metal and which is bent up to form three sides of a mail box. In this blank are punched blisters 3, 4, 5 and 6. In the blanks are also punched the holes 7 and 7 for the tie rods, the use of which will be presently explained. The outline of the blank is made irregular with lugs and recesses for purposes that will also presently be explained.

The middle of the blank, as shown in Fig. 5, is perforated with a series of round holes. The edges of these holes are drawn down as is shown in Figs. 3 and 4, and serve to make that part of the blank which is perforated both light and stiff, these perforations being confined to the part of the blank that is intended for the bottom of the box; It also gives to each perforation a round edge in stead of a sharp edge, and this prevents to a certain extent the mail matter from catching on the edges of the perforations.

The blank shown in Fig. 5 is bent to the U-shape shown in Fig. 6. On the top of each side of the box is shown a series of lugs 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12. Between these lugs are left Specification of Letters ratent.

Patented Feb. 15, 1916.

Serial No. 75o,s3a

the recesses 13, 14, 15 and 16. As will be seen in Fig. 4, these lugs 7 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 are slightly offset from the body of the box so that they willrreceive between them the bottom of the box that is superimposed thereon, it being understood that these boxes are assembled in vertical series by placing one box upon another. The boxes in a vertical series are tied together in a manner that will now be explained.

Tie rods 17 and l8, l9 and 20, are inserted through the blisters 6, 5, 3 and 4 in vertical series, as is shown in Fig. 7. These rods also fill the openings in the recesses 15, 16, 13 and 14, and by them the boxes in a vertical series are securely held together in a'single unit structure. j

Referring again to, the blank shown in Fig. 5, it will be seen that the blank is provided with a series of sections on. the front and rear edge, whichare specially cut for purposes that will now be explained.

Sections 21 and 22 are doubled out and back upon themselves to form the reinforced ends 23 and 24. Section 25 is bent down to form the flange 26. Sections 27 and 28 are doubled back upon themselves to form three thicknesses, as is shown in section along the dotted line illustration in Fig. 7. The lugs 29 and 30 engage with the recesses left by the cut away portions 31 and 32, making a positive engagement therein, the various parts when bolted up appearing as is illus trated in the section in Fig. 2. The section 33 is bent down and inwardly upon itself to form the reinforced flange 3e shown in Fig. 6.

After the boxes have been formed in the manner above described, they are assembled by placing them in vertical series one on top of the other and fastening them together by the vertical tie rods. Successive vertical series are then placed side by side and these series are tied together by means of the tie rods 35 illustrated in Figs. 2 and 7, these tie rods being threaded on the ends and having the nuts 36 and 37 on the ends thereof by which the parts are held together. These tie rods need not be used on every horizontal row, it being sufficient to use them on every third horizontal row. The sections so assembled may be mounted upon a suitable base such as is illustrated at 38 in Figs. 3 and 4, which base has cleats 39 and 40 on the front and rear edges thereof, with which the flanges 26 and 34 may engage for the purpose of holding the parts securely in engagement. In the bottom box the flange 34 is preferably left somewhat short so as to engage with the cleat 40. The flanges 84 are also provided with the label holders 41 in which may be placed the name of the tenant of the box.

Beveled mountings 42 and 43 may be provided for the highest and the lowest boxes so as to display the names of the labels to the best advantage to the clerk distributing the mail. Detachable ends 44 and 45 may be placed on each end of the series of boxes for the purpose of closing the ends thereof. On top of the uppermost box is placed a plain panel 46 which completelycloses it,

v and over this a casing 47 for the whole series of boxes may be extended, as is illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4. i

To the front of the boxes may be fastened in any suitable manner, such as is illustrated in cross section in Fig. 2, the framework for supporting the hinge doors, by Which access to the boxes is controlled from the front.

-: For this purpose theframework is provided may be riveted or bolted together.

with vertical flanges 50, 51 and 52, etc., which flanges extend between consecutive columns of boxes and space them apart, and through which the front edgeso-f the bolxes he doors 54 are hinged to the flange 53 and the doors 55 and 56 are hinged to the flange 52. The flanges 50 and 51 serve as stops for the doors 54 and 55 and the flange 57 serves as a stop for the door 56.

As shown inFigs. 1 are hinged on a pin and the doors 55 and 56 areboth hinged upon another pin, being placed back to backthereon. Each door is provided with two knuckles and the flanges in each case are provided with sta tionary knuckles which wholly or partly fill up the space on the pin that is not otherwise taken up by the knuckles on the doors. WVhere necessary sleeves are placed on the pin in line with the knuckles to fill up the space.

I claim: 1. A letter box formed of a single sheet of metal having a bottom and two upturned and 2, the doors 54 and two sides therein, the upper edge of each of the sides being slightly offset to receive the bottom of a box above it, a socket arranged at the side of the box near the bottom, a lug projecting upwardly from the top of each box to engage with a socket at.

the bottom of the box above.

3. A mail box having a bottom and two sides, the bottom havingflanges bent down on eachend thereof, each of said sides having its forward edge bent outwardly and back upon itself-and having its rear edge bent outwardly and back upon itself, said double portion beingagain bent outwardly and back upon the box, leaving-an interval between itself and the box.

4. A mail box having a bottom and two sides, the bottom havlng flanges bent down on each end thereof, each of said sides havf ing its forward edge bent outwardly and back upon itself and having its rear edge bent outwardly and back upon itself, said double portion being again bentoutwardly and back upon the box, leaving an interval betweenritself and the box, the upper portion of said folded metal being provided with a lug, a recess' in the botto n' of} said folded portion corresponding to said lug.

5. A metal box having a bottom and two sides, each of'said sides havingits up'per edge offset outwardly to-form a socket with shoulders therein to receive the 'bottom of the box next above it, the top of each box being closed by the box above it, leaving the front and back of the box open for filling and emptying the box.

6. A metal box having abottom and two sides, each of said sides having'its upper edge offset outwardly to form a socket to receive the bottom of the box next" above it,

recesses in eachof said offset portions, blisters formed in the side of the box immediately below said recesses, said recesses and blisters in a series of boxes occurring in line with each other, a locking strip for engaging with the blisters and recesses in a vertical series of boxes. i

7. The combination in a case of. letter boxes of a series of boxes each formed with a bottom and two sides, said box-es being capable of assembling by stacking themone on top of another, means on each box to positively receive and hold the bottom of the box above it, means for engaging with all the boxes of aseries for positively holding them together and in line with each other. p

8. In a case of letter boxes, the combination of a series ofboxes each formed with a bottom and two sides, said boxes being arranged in a plurality of vertical series,

means integral with said boxes for spacing In testimony whereof I aflix my signature them apart at the rear, a door frame for in presence of tWo Witnesses.

covering the front of said boxes, said frame RAYMOND G BULLOCK having flanges thereon for engaging between i the boxes andv holding them apart at the Witnesses:

front, said boxes and saidflanges being fas- R. FENTON FIsI-IER,

tened together. H. C. FOSBERG.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

